SCOUT

In three letters from 1864 and 1865 to his wife Katy, Hugh Ryan, a private with the 24th Kentucky Infantry, describes the life of a Union soldier at the close of the Civil War.

Isabel Belle Scott of Gratiot, Wisconsin wrote this letter to her brother James, who was then serving with Company B of the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, on 15 February 1863. Belle is under the impression that James is helping to construct a canal at Vicksburg and the letter is addressed to him via Memphis, Tennessee.

This collection consists of a single handwritten letter by J. A. Bowen while in Camp Cheatham, Robertson County, Tennessee, on May 24, 1861.

This collection consists of an April 11, 1864, letter from Union soldier J. C. Gates in Ringgold, Georgia. Writing to his wife in Ohio, Gates mentions the arrival of Col. Brownlow and the East Tennessee Cavalry and discusses the fish supply in the local rivers (Chickamauga, Hiwassee, and Tennessee).

This collection consists of one letter written by Union soldier James E. Howe to his sister Frances A. Howe of Flint, Michigan. Howe was stationed with his regiment in Bowling Green, Kentucky when he wrote the letter. In it, he mentions extensive Confederate espionage activity in and around Bowling Green and the Tennessee state line.

J. P. Hollowell wrote this letter to his sister, Sallie Hollowell, from camp in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In it, he mentions that his unit has been looking for a fight, but their location is too well fortified. Hollowell also apologizes for not being home for Christmas and says that he wants a new pair of pants.

A handwritten letter from J. S. Hanna to an unknown recipient written circa November 24, 1862 from Fort Saunderson, Bolivar, TN. The letter discusses his time at his time at the fort including sickness and weather.

Jacob H. Bickley wrote these three letters, dated 1863 December 14, 1864 January 13, and 1865 June 13, to his sister Martha Mattie Bickley in Ohio from the field in Tennessee. In them, he discusses his involvement in the Battle of Chattanooga and other military duties, family life, and his attempts to send money home.

This collection contains a letter from Confederate soldier Jason Cooper, dated December 5, 1863 from Dalton, Georgia. Written "To his dear friend Farley," Cooper writes about the Confederate evacuation of Chattanooga.

The collection contains a letter written by Captain James Fowler Rusling (1834-1918) of the 17th U.S.C.T in Beech Grove, Tennessee to Captain Marsh of the "F" Co. MI 19th Infantry. The correspondence discusses rebel troop movements across the Harpeth River under General Hood in 1864.

A single handwritten letter from James J. Vauln in LaGrange, Tenn. to General Ulysses S. Grant in Memphis, Tenn. dated June 23, 1862. Vauln, a deacon of the American Catholic Church in LaGrange, pleas for permission to continue his church services, as the new brigadier general had forced him to stop holding services.

The James K. P. Sayler Papers, 1857-1943, contain correspondence, writings and speeches, bills, contracts, and other papers related to the life of Sayler, a Confederate soldier stationed in Vicksburg, MS, during the Civil War and a teacher Romeo, Tenn. Among the topics discussed are pre-Civil War politics (particularly in Missouri), military life and movement during the war, and educational and religious theory.

In this letter written from Waverly, Tenn., and dated February 16, 1864, James E. Pritchard of the 8th Iowa Cavalry writes to his brother John. He comments that the "Rebels will never regain a hold on East Tennessee," noting that in Waverly, 300 Confederates surrendered and took the oath of allegiance.

This collection consists of a letter written from a camp in the field near Chattanooga from James R. Bell to a Miss Ella Bell. He desires to perpetuate "a friendship I esteem as almost sacred" with her and asks of news of her and her brother George.

This collection contains a letter soldier James Smith wrote to his family on March 3, 1865 in Patterson, Missouri. Smith writes his father and family about his regiment's movements and his desire to come home.

This collection consists of a Civil War letter written by Captain James W. Field on November 3, 1863, at Cumberland Gap. Field's letter pertained to the Cumberland Gap and his duties there as a soldier.

This collection consists of a letter from Jethro Hill, dated February 3, 1864, sent from Lenoir's Station, Tennessee, to Jodie. Hill describes a brief battle and his good living conditions. He also asks for news of the family and wonders why Jodie hasn't responded to his previous letters.

This collection contains a letter from Job Barnard to Flora Putnam, written from La Vergne, Tennessee on May 30, 1864. In it, he discusses his work on monthly reports to the War Department and singing for a sick Sergt. Henseley of Co H. Barnard also describes meeting local families and conversing with one woman about southern girls versus Yankee girls. He also talks about ladies who seem to like him or think he likes them.

John D. Messinger wrote this letter to his friend E. Smith Woodworth from Pulaski, Tennessee on November 20, 1864. In it, Messinger discusses Lincoln's victory in the recent presidential election and Confederate troop movements in Tennessee. He also expresses his hope that the Union will soon win the war so that he can return home.